Switzerland contributes both civil and military personnel to peace-keeping operations organized by the United Nations (UN), the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) and the European Union (EU). Its military involvement is subject to various statutory conditions. Participation in hostilities in order to make peace is excluded. 

^{Source: Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs.}

Support to UN Peackeeping 

As of October 2009, Switzerland supplied a total of 23 personnel to UN peacekeeping operations (6 police and 17 military observers):

• UN Integrated Office in Burundi (BINUB)

• UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH)

• UN Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC),

• AU/UN Hybrid operation in Darfur (UNAMID)

• UN Mission in Nepal (UNMIN)

• UN Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI)

• UN Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO).

^{Source: UN Peacekeeping.}

Swisscoy

On 23 June 1999, the Federal Council decided that Switzerland should participate with military means in the Kosovo force (KFOR) on the basis of UN Security Council Resolution 1244. The up to 220 volunteers from the armed forces (armed for self-defence) formed an infantry and support company for the maneuver battalion in Dulje under the name of SWISSCOY - for Swiss company. In June 2008 the Parliament prolonged the mandate until the end of 2011 with 220 all ranks maximum.

^{Source: Swisscoy website.}

EUFOR (Bosnia)

On 16 December 2004, the Swiss Parliament confirmed the decision of the Federal Council to authorise the Ministry of Defence to deploy members of the Swiss armed forces – armed for self-defence – to the multinational European Union Force (EUFOR) for the mission ALTHEA in Bosnia-Herzegovina. The deployment consists of a maximum of four staff-officers and two Liaison and Observation Teams (LOT), each consisting of eight people. The Swiss Air Force also participates in this mission since June 2005.

Switzerland also participates in two civilian peace-support operations of the EU: European Union Police Mission (EUPM) with civilian policemen in Bosnia-Herzegovina since the beginning of 2003, and operation PROXIMA in Macedonia since March 2004.

Agreement concluded between Switzerland and the EU regarding the participation of Switzerland in the military crisis management operation led by the EU in Bosnia Herzegovina (Operation ALTHEA) of 22 December 2004 (in French only). 

^{Source: Swiss Federal Department of Defence.}

Neutral Nations Su-pervisory Commission in Korea (NNSC)

Switzerland participates in the NNSC with 5 observers (as of October 2009).

^{Source: Swiss Federal Department of Defence.}

Humanitarian demining operations

For information on Switzerland's participation in humanitarian deminig operations, see the website of the Swiss Federal Department of Defence (in French and German).

Last updated: 11 October 2009.